Folding map



May v16, 195o c. E. SHARP, JR

FOLDING MAP Filed Aug. 4, 1945 Patented May 16, 1950 uis-.meuf suf-mires FQLBING MAP Charles, Sharp.; Jn, University QityyMQ, Applieatfdnugustfl, 1945,.' 3Sex5a91lN160839001i 3 '.Claims, (Cl. 283.1134.)

Thee-present 1n, general., relatesftc maps, andfin particularhto folding'ma'ps having thereon a-pertionof theearths surface together` with-visual; meansI representing or` indicating :a line :orf route-oi rtravel along vsaid surface.-

A lobjectof theinventionis tovprcfvideA a-niap ffthstypeywhich is for-.ined from a-single blank.- of Dasteboardacardbeard, or the Iikesuitabl-y scoredgalongspaced-predeterminedflines to facilitates folding thereof intoa Y substantially 'rectan-` gulan; form, albeit :price` tov folding, `portions theteof between scorelines-maybe angularly. dis.- pQsedfWi-th respect ,to anzadjacentvpoiftion or--p,or-.l tcnsiof lthe whole.,

Another obj ectof the invention, is to .provide -afolding map having thereon; a `portion vofhthe earths ,1 surface; and; also.,l havingf thereon-visual means; representing ai selected,` linefgoifgrcute. ci travel -f'alongl :said lisuiffacefiiomga '-.stanting point to afterminal point; said f line zor arofute :ofhtitaiuel generally: extending; i lengthwise? of the, integralpanel sections-.-forn1edfby scoring.;orfperfolatn the blankalongfseleeted lines.:y

Affurther vobject-noithe.,inventinnzisi togpxovide aiolding nnapfhavingithereon aff-portion. ofi-.the earths; surface, and zalso. :having fvthereenfvisual means` representing-fa.selectedf line :orironteyzof travel.'y alengn said Esstirace.: from; a' startingfg-,point tot; astern'rinalepeint; said f line; on routefof; travel 'generally'. extending lengthwise: off; the-rintcg-razlz panelesections fcrmedsibyscoring onapeffonating thesblank': along is elected:lineasand saidrflineleol mute.: ofi: travels', substanti representing the actual geographicaldirecticnzors,directions tothe follewed A further object of the invention is to provide a. folding inap vof thisI type comprising a single pieceioicardboai'd, pasteboard, or-thelikef, scored or perforated in such manner as te beI divide ,into a plurality. o complementary, panel, sections adapted, when foldedgto produce a substantially quadrilateral form having its upper and lower bases .para-lich.facilitating inserti-'on thereof# into, andi Withdrawal. there-of.- from-l.' an envelope-.f of sliglntl'y'f-` gi'eateif.. correspon(indigne'dimensiorispv and adapted, when. .unfoldedatcexhi'bit a portieri@ of the earths surface having depicted thereon a trip or route of travel from a starting point to a finishing point, both of which points obviously are located Within the confines of said map.

Other objects and features will be noted or apparent from the description to follow, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention depicting a trip from St. Louis to Chi- 2 @een thenceito?CincinnatisftbeecetefPittsbureh.: thenceftc Ph,i,1a ielphia., andra theme10 New iYOifk city, or vice versa.

In said.- drawine :V f

Figs-:,lisza'iplan viewioi a-:blank havingfaimap ofisa zportioniof xthefearth's-surfacezf tlfxerecni;A ,to gather-1,-Withzfvisible;meansmepresenting aline-.nn route of travel.alongssaid,surfacenthe'blanlsfbeing sooredforfperforated alongpredeteifminedldinesxto facilitate folding? Eig; 2'gisi. a :viewwonf asredu'ced scale lofi the/blank inf-partially foldedfposition Eig: 3 is\-` a plan?y View` thereof` completelyn folded;

Fig# fis-a vertical. sectional viewfsthroughithe folded=blank'on the line 4"-4-.of-Figf-3s Fig;V 5 -isv a cross=sectiona1 view onathe vline v5"--5 of-f'Fig. 1, showing, in 1iai-'ticulai1,` onelformw means representing-a line -orV route of travelyf liigfg4 is-a similar vieWgillustrating;inv particular, another -form of'means Vrepresenting a Vline orroute oftravel;

Fig, 'Visa vievvof 'the front side of van envelope adapted 'to ucontain vthe folded-map lof" Figs 3"`and 4;and

Fg. ,8"'is a view on, a reduced-scale of' therear sdeofisaidenvelche- As, illustrated; particularly` inligs, 1 2, S'and 4,-, the,.,.invention preferablx, comprises a, single blankof. caifbpard, ,pasteboard `or ,the like gener, ally, indicated H3, scored. or perforated,v trans-A veilselyalong the'lines it, wherebythe, blank, is dividedintc apluralityof panels orr sections, ,the score lines ineffect., constituting ,a hinged .gone nection,betvi'leenl adjacent panels..

In the..- ern-bodinfient.;` illustrated, four., such |,2i3 i4 andv 'I 5, are provided,..each ans gularly" disposed. relative ,to its., adjacent.. panel. Olot'ionsly, thentmiben of such .panels .isi-depende ent uponttheilength of the .route .depicted aswell as, uponthe, directionatchangesof the route; as is understood. Thus the folding map of myyim venticni,v ,fcmnnifise.two.;l thzeeiffeut. -ve -v01 motenanele, each-.hingedly connected ta-itsadia: centpanelv orv panelsandzeach ahgiularly. dispo-sed relative.,teuits-adiaesut7 pane1..,oi; penchent., .paia alle] therewith in some instances.

Where two adjoining panels are angularly disposed relative to one another, the score line between them constitutes a continuation of an imaginary line bisecting the exterior angle formed by said panels. Consequently, when said panels have been folded along said score line and superimposed one upon the other, the sides of said angle, each of which forms the marginal edge of one panel, are in registration. And since. as shown, the opposite free marginal edges of each panel are parallel, these are likewise in registration.

Thus, the score line II, forming the fold or hinge line between the panels I2 and I3, is a` continuation of an imaginary line bisecting the exterior angle A whose sides constitute the free marginal edges I6 and I1, respectively, of said panels. The opposite free marginal edge I6 of panel I2 is parallel with the edge I6, and similarly the opposite marginal edge I9 is parallel with the edge II of panel I3.

Similarly, the score line II forming the fold or hinge line between the panels I3 and I4 is a continuation of an imaginary line bisecting the exterior angle B, and so on.

With this arrangement, the blank of Fig. 1, when folded, assumes the substantially quadrilateral compact form illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, readily insertable into and removable from the envelope 20 of Figs. 7 and 8.

The visual line of travel or route along that portion of the earths surface portrayed by the paneled foldable blank I is designated by the numerals 2|, 22, 23 and 24, respectively, on the panels or sections I2, I3, I 4 and I5.

Obviously, regardless of the directional course, or the number of panels incorporated in the map, the said visual travel line is a continuous one from starting point to destination, or vice versa. It may be a straight line, an undulated line, or a zigzag line.

As illustrated, particularly in Fig. 5, said line may be in the form of a shallow V-shaped groove or longitudinal depression 25, the walls of which are colored distinctively so as to make it the predominant feature of the map.

Conversely, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 6, said line may be in the form of an inverted V- shaped rib or longitudinal protuberance 26, the tangible walls of which are likewise colored distinctively so as to make it the predominant fea ture of the map.

From the foregoing, it should be evident that the invention provides a novel folding map particularly useful to passengers of aircraft or railroads. If designed according to the teachings of the invention, each map, when folded, results in a flat, compact, substantially quadrilateral device which may be conveniently inserted into and withdrawn from an envelope, whose front and back sides may be marked to indicate the particular route on the map therein. Y

As indicated in Fig. 1, points of interest along the route of travel, the skylines of cities, as well as advertising matter, may be portrayed along the marginal portions of the panels. For instance, the steel mills of Pittsburgh are pictured at 21, Lincolns tomb at 28, the skyline of St. Louis at 29, and advertising copy may appear at 30.

The embodiment illustrated and described isv exemplary only, and the invention is therefore not to be limited to this precise arrangement. Obviously, a line or route of travelother than that shown may be depicted without departing from the nature and principle of the invention. Likewise, the panels or sections forming the complete map may be hingedly secured together in foldable relation by means other than those described.

I claim:

1. A folding map formed from a single blank of cardboard or the like having thereon a map of a portion of the earths surface, visual means on said map for indicating a continuous line of travel between points designated on the map, said blank including a plurality of integral panel sections angularly disposed relative one another and corresponding to the angularity of portions of the line of travel, and a fold line between each pair of adjacent panel sections whereby said sections may Abe superimposed upon one another, said fold line constituting a continuation of an imaginary line bisecting the exterior angles formed by said angularly disposed panel sections.

2. In a folding map formed from a single blank of cardboard or the like having thereon a map of a portion of the earths surface and having a continuous line of travel visually indicated on the map; a plurality of integral panel sections angularly disposed relative to one another, the angularity of each of said sections corresponding to the angularity of that portion of the line of travel appearing thereon, and means whereby said sections may be superimposed one upon the other so that their principal edges coincide, said means comprising a single fold line formed between each pair of adjacent panel 'sections which if extended would bisect the exterior angle obtaining between them.

3. In a folding map formed from a single blank of cardboard or the like having thereon a map of a portion of the earths surface and having a continuous line of travel visually indicated on the map; a plurality of integral panel sections angularly disposed relative to one another, the angularity of each of said sections corresponding to the angularity of that portion of the line of travel appearing thereon, and means whereby said blank may -be folded so that said panel sections may be superimposed one upon the other to provide a compact, substantially quadrilateral device adapted to be readily inserted into or withdrawn from an envelope of slightly greater dimansions, said means comprising a single fold line formed between each pair of adjacent panel sections which if extended would bisect the exterior angle obtaining -between them.

CHARLES E. SHARP, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of re'cord in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 467,118 Hawkins Jan. 12, 1892 674,146 White May 14, 1901 1,228,197 Flenniken May 29, 1917 1,618,839 Lisk Feb. 22, 1927 

